Before 2009, no one had ever heard of Uber or Lyft. Fast forward ten years to 2019, and Uber and Lyft are two of the most prominent companies worldwide. Since Uber began in March 2009, statistics show that Uber Technologies, Inc. provided 4 billion rides in 2017 alone. To date, Uber has provided nearly 10 billion total rides worldwide since it was founded. Likewise, Lyft, which started in June 2012, averages over 1 million rides per day worldwide. With that much traffic on the road, unfortunately, vehicle crashes inevitably happen.
Policies Protecting Riders
1954.051 of the Texas Insurance Code requires that ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft carry liability insurance. However, the amount of insurance provided depends on the situation. This is based on whether the Uber/Lyft driver is currently available for rides versus on a trip. If the driver logs into the company’s app and is only available for rides, Texas law requires that Uber/Lyft provide $50,000 in liability coverage per person and $100,000 in liability coverage per incident. Once the driver has accepted a ride and the trip is underway, Texas law requires that Uber/Lyft carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance. This insurance coverage protects both the riders in the Uber/Lyft vehicle and other drivers on the road who may sustain injuries from the negligence of an Uber/Lyft driver.
Importantly, Texas law also requires that Uber/Lyft provide Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage for its drivers. This coverage protects the Uber/Lyft driver in the event that they sustain injuries from a negligent third party. Furthermore, that third party either: 1) does not have enough liability insurance to cover the damages of the Uber/Lyft driver or 2) has no insurance to cover the damages of the Uber/Lyft driver.
What To Do After a Ride-Sharing Crash
If you are a passenger in an Uber/Lyft, involved in a vehicle crash caused by an Uber/Lyft driver, or if you are driving a vehicle for Uber/Lyft and you’re involved in a crash because of a third person’s negligence, you’re protected by the above-mentioned liability insurance. However, it is extremely important to remember, the insurance companies for Uber/Lyft are not your friends. It is their job to get you to settle your claims for as little money as possible. Do not sign any paperwork with an insurance company or adjuster. Seek the consultation of an experienced personal injury attorney.
If you were in a crash caused by the negligence of an Uber/Lyft driver, call the experienced attorneys at Perdue & Kidd immediately so we can help you preserve your rights after the crash and get the financial compensation you deserve.
